by Tom Johnson I think there’s an annual requirement that Keith Jarrett must issue some kind of musical good. Going into this release, there had only been a handful of years in his career that have not resulted in some kind of album under his name — 1969, 1970, 1978,Read More

by Mark Saleski For those unfamiliar with Fritz Hauser, he is one of (maybe the … who knows, there’s gotta be more than one though) Switzerland’s best percussionists. You May Also Like: No related posts.

A sharper direction on this new release, not to mention an all-star backing cast, helps Stanley Jordon overcome many of the stereotypes that have dogged him since rising to fame in the early 1980s. Back then, Jordan was riding a wave of attention over his use of a eye-poppingly fastRead More

> *** STEELY DAN SUNDAY INDEX *** The art of narration in a song, I would suppose, is one that’s hard to nail down so tight, because when it’s done so well, you remember it. You May Also Like: Walter Becker, “She Was Good” (early 1990s): Steely Dan Sunday SteelyRead More

Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra has worked well as a creative outlet for its slide trumpet-playing leader, who seems to come up with some off-the-wall ideas for a jazz orchestra. You May Also Like: Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra feat. Catherine Russell, “Yes We Can” (2022): One Track Mind StevenRead More

Sebastian Bach’s ‘Kicking and Screaming’ falls in sound somewhere between Skid Row’s ‘Slave to the Grind’ and ‘Subhuman Race,’ and that’s a very good thing

by Mark Saleski There’s a single reason for me owning this disc: Kurt Elling’s cover of Pat Metheny’s “Minuano (Six Eight),” from Still Life (Talking). You May Also Like: Phil Collins, “In the Air Tonight” (1981): On Second Thought The La De Da’s, Blue Stars and others – How IsRead More

In a few short years after these sides were put to tape, Buck Owens would be hailed as the architect of the Bakersfield sound, notching memorable hits for Capitol including “Tiger by the Tail” and “Act Naturally.” He was, really, still gathering his tools, and picking out building materials. Yet,Read More

The lyrics have changed over these many years, but the mythical journey of Stagger Lee — “that bad man, oh, cru-el Stagolee” who shot a card-playing companion over a five-dollar Stetson hat — remains this talismanic tale. You May Also Like: Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ – Tajmo (2017)

by Tom Johnson I have a bass. It’s sitting right over there in the corner and it’s gotten tucked further and further away from me as time has gone on. Other things move in front of it, or find themselves stored on top of the amp, and eventually it’s justRead More